Shoemaking

Use in the book

At 125a–b the shoemaker demonstrates domain-specific competence. He understands the production of shoes and is good at it, while lack of understanding makes him bad at producing cloaks. The same man is good and bad in different respects. Alcibiades' desired “good men” must therefore be characterized more precisely than by the possession of any practical skill.

At 128a–e23 the shoe belongs to the foot, but the craft that improves the shoe differs from the craft improving the foot. Shoemaking and gymnastics separate caring for possessions from caring for their possessor. The inference depends on the proper primary object of the craft, not on denying that suitable footwear can help bodily use. Socrates then asks how one could know the improving craft without knowing what a shoe is, preparing the corresponding question about oneself.

At 129c–e2 the worker uses a cutter, knife, hands, and eyes. These successive instruments support the distinction between the user and what is used. Shoemaking has therefore become a model not just of productive skill but of agency itself. The argument goes on to identify the user of the body with soul, while explicitly qualifying that conclusion as adequate rather than precise at 130c–d. The humble example supports that inquiry without independently proving all its later metaphysical claims.

Places to read

1. 125a–125bThe shoemaker is good at one productive task and bad at another
2. 128a–128e23Shoes and feet have distinct improving crafts; identifying the craft requires knowing its object
3. 129c–129e2A shoemaker differs from tools, hands, and eyes used in work

Translation in this edition

The edition renders σκυτική “shoemaking” because shoes are the explicit product under discussion. At 129c7 Burnet prints τομεῖ, the implement, rather than the first hand of B's τομῇ; the supplied apparatus cautions that B's reading is itself uncertain.

σκυτοτόμος / σκυτική

Attested: σκυτοτόμος (skytotomos; 125a); Σκυτική (skytikē; 128b). At 125a: The shoemaker intelligent about producing shoes. At 128b: Shoemaking, the craft improving shoes rather than feet. Lexical identification: family label: σκυτοτόμος / σκυτική. See Shoemaking.

τομεύς / σμίλη

Attested: τομεῖ (tomei; 129c); σμίλῃ (smilēi; 129c). At 129c: A cutter used by the shoemaker and distinct from its user. At 129c: A knife used in cutting, another implement distinct from the worker. Lexical identification: family label: τομεύς / σμίλη. See Shoemaking.

ὑπόδημα

Attested: ὑπόδημα (hypodēma; 128a); ὑποδήματα (hypodēmata; 128b). At 128a: A shoe as something belonging to a foot. At 128b: Shoes as the objects improved by shoemaking. Lexical identification: lemma: ὑπόδημα. See Shoemaking.